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Nov 1, 2006- Federally-Sponsored Research Targets Lake Erie's "Dead Zones"

November 1, 2006

The study will focuson recurring low-oxygen episodes, known as hypoxia, in the lake. After aperiod of decline in hypoxic events during the 1980s and early 1990s, theepisodes have once against become a critical issue because they can kill fishand create algal blooms, particularly in the warm and shallow Western Basin.

"The reappearance of 'dead zones'is one of the prime environmental challenges to Lake Erie's long-term health, along with invasivespecies and nutrient pollution," Congresswoman Kaptur said. "We're hopingthis research can unlock the mystery of the 'dead zones' so we can restore thelake habitat to its optimum condition."

Also helping toconduct the research will be Roger Knight of the Ohio Department of NaturalResources and Peter Richards of HeidelbergCollegein Tiffin.